Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's overall approval rate since 2017 is 52%, the latest reporting period shows a 49% approval rate. This latest figure sits 11 percentage points below the Baltimore office average of 60%. These metrics are derived from a significant volume of decisions, providing a stable baseline for understanding historical decision-making tendencies.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Simmonds's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The approval rate for Clary Simmonds has fluctuated across the 2,887 decisions on record since 2017. Following a 57% approval rate in 2018, the rate shifted before reaching 49% in the latest reporting period. This recent trend reflects the outcomes of your judge's docket rather than a fundamental shift in judicial philosophy.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Simmonds's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Baltimore hearing office
The Baltimore hearing office serves you and other claimants throughout Maryland and the surrounding region. As of the latest data, 24 judges have their most recent record at this location, which maintains an office-wide approval rate of 60% for the latest period. You can see the Baltimore hearing office page for the full ALJ roster.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 24 judges whose most recent office on record is the Baltimore office, and 8 of them decided cases here in the latest file through July 2026. Approval rates among this group vary significantly, ranging from 32% to 79% on their since-2016 records.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Clary Simmonds has an approval rate of 52% since 2017. This compares to a range of 32% to 79% for other judges whose most recent office on record is Baltimore. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of this hearing office.
Yes, the approval rate has fluctuated over time. While the rate was 57% in 2018, it reached 49% in the latest reporting period. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strategy based on these trends.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases randomly to ensure impartiality. An attorney can help you prepare a strong case regardless of which judge is assigned.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical evidence and testimony. You will likely be questioned about your work history and physical or mental limitations. An attorney can help you present your evidence clearly to the judge.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a guarantee of your outcome. Your specific medical evidence and how it aligns with disability criteria are the most important factors. An attorney can help you determine if your evidence meets these standards.
